Presidents Message October 2023

This year has gone by quickly. Hopefully, the heat of summer has passed, and we will get some nice fall temperatures.

I have some great news about your chapter! Your Executive Board challenged the rating given to our chapter as a Four-Star Harris Communications Award winner. National MOAA agreed to review the rating and we were upgraded to Five Stars. Also, we have once again been awarded the Five Star Levels of Excellence Award. These awards are a testament to the excellence of the leaders and the dedication of the members of this great chapter.

We had a great program at the September General Membership Meeting. It included remarks by our old friends Ted and Marilyn Janosko. Ted was representing National MOAA and Marilyn spoke about Surviving Spouse issues. We presented SWOK Chapter Certificates of Appreciation to two well deserving ladies, Nan Mazza and Jeanne McKenty. 

Thanks to some wonderful volunteers, the chapter had a very successful fundraiser Spaghetti Dinner in September at VFW Post #5263. I appreciate the members of Post 5263 for their hosting of our event. The chapter netted $1643.00. These funds will be used for our chapter operations, donations to other Veterans Service Organizations and scholarships. I would like to thank the following volunteers who assisted with the fundraiser.

•    Dennis and Anita Clippinger
•    Jim and Joyce McClary
•    Rocky Samek
•    Lupe Rivera
•    Ray Friedl 
•    Jeanne McKenty 
•    Gail Coffman
•    Zoe DuRant
•    Leighton and Nancy Duitsman
•    Roy Morgan
•    Bill Whisenant
•    Sue Kremmer
•    Nan Mazza
•    Becky Pazoureck
•    Pat Hollis

Please join us for the next General Membership Meeting at 1130, November 8 at the Prairie Room, Comanche County Fairgrounds. We will have a delicious Thanksgiving Meal. Hope to see you there!

Don DuRant
Chapter President
SWOK MOAA